'Alf' was the best, says code-hopper Thorn

Former All Blacks and Kangaroos hard man Brad Thorn has given Allan Langer the ultimate accolade, rating the Broncos great the best playmaker he played with in either code.

Thorn played with some of the greats of both rugby league and union during his decorated career, including All Blacks World Cup winner Dan Carter and former Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer.

But despite the merits of Carter and Lockyer, the dual international says the diminutive Langer was the top of the pile.

"I’d still say Alf (was the best)," Thorn told Fox Sports.

"If he decided to score on his own he would, or he’d do something special with a grubber, a pass or a step so someone else did. That was week after week, year after year to win games.

"Dan was a bigger, stronger man than Locky and very strong defensively. Both were country guys. Dan was quieter but didn’t mind a party like Locky either."

Widely regarded as one of the greatest ever dual internationals, Thorn carved out a decorated NRL career with the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia from 1994 to 2000.

He then switched to union, playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and notching 12 Tests for the All Blacks before re-joining the NRL from 2005-07, claiming a fourth premiership with Brisbane and further Origin appearances for the Maroons.

That was followed by a second stint in union when he again wore the All Blacks jersey and was part of the Kiwi side that won the 2011 World Cup.

No player is better qualified to compare the two codes and while he refused to place one above the other in terms of toughness, he says State of Origin was the equal of any rugby union Test.

"I’d put State of Origin in league on the same level as an All Blacks-Springboks Test in rugby union," Thorn said.

"They have the same ingredients with a natural enemy, capacity crowds that want blood and just a warzone mentality to the way the games are played."

Asked about the toughest players from both codes, Thorn, now 41, had a few surprises.

"Some of the toughest guys I know in league were smaller players like Dallas Johnson and Trevor Gillmeister, because every game they had to play tough to win the collisions against bigger guys," he said.

"In rugby, Richie McCaw was phenomenal for the All Blacks. For 15 years or more, he was over the ball giving opposition forwards of 115kg almost a free shot to do damage with head and shoulders to clean him out."